It is a little sedating for me. I started at 50mg, withheld the Xanax because that was like doing something into the wind anyway and I didn't want to risk increasing the sedative effect.

I was able to sleep in pieces. The first time I had to get up, I stayed in the living room so I wouldn't disturb my husband... he has to get up at 4:30am.

Please be careful about with holding your xanax. I think you said that you take 1mg 3 x a day?
I am curious why you switched from klonipin to xanax?
Yes benadryl is most useful as a sleep aid!
bizi

[BThe Benadryl isn't working.

I don't know what is winning out: Hypo or Akathsisia[/B]

Now my behavior is a little more goal-directed (have laundry in the dryer), but I still can't (expletive) still. I'm more agitated, racing thoughts increased, writing prolifically (this is new to me), I'm talking to myself more (thank God not to anyone else), critiquing my s/s attempt and remembering it more.

[B]ALTHOUGH STILL NO S/S THOUGHTS.[/B]

Calling the office

I hope they don't lock me up

I'll keep you posted.

Kay

Kay,

I hope that you go through to the office and got some help.

M

Kay

Benadryl I've read will not work if you keep taking the antipsychotic, but beyond skipping/reducing for a day or two, an MD needs to call shots. I thought the issue was just for a one day and then your pdoc would be stepping in to make some decisions.

What if your husband took you to the ER and you told them (with his help if you have trouble) that you are having trouble with the akathisia? I doubt you'd present as dangerous to self and others if you are going there mostly because you feel uncomfortable. Your husband can probably attest that you are not giving signs of doing bad things.

I have some concern that you are seeing motor agitation from mania, not from the Latuda. However, it could truly be akathisia. It would be best for a doctor to check you out, and give you treatments in a controlled environment -- hospital/ER where they can check your reactions to what they give you and change course of therapy quickly, if need be.

If you really won't do the ER and can't get to your pdoc, maybe you can get to your GP? You need to see a doctor at this point.

WOW! (expletive!)

I called and paged the on-call physician, but got a call back from my pdoc about 4hrs later...

-No ER

-No office visit

-She's not concerned about 100mg of Zoloft

-Like Waves, not certain on akasthisia vs. hypomania

-Choice to stay on Latuda or switch to Abilify tonight. Worried about hypo fallout if a mood-stabilizer is withdrawn at this point.
Said it's hard because I've tried so many drugs (lithium, depakote, risperidol, zyprexa, seroquol. I'm on lamictal and topomax now).

-I mentioned the Benadryl. She said I could try to increase it to 75 or 100mg, but not above. It will have that sedative effect, but obviously will not treat the hypomania.

-"Call me tomorrow if you need to, go to the ER if you need to, see you Friday."
Hopefully, I'm not leaving anything out.


I was truthful with her and thorough. She makes some good points, but I was hardly satisfied when I hung up the phone.
I wasn't about to agree to switch to a new mood stabilizer that I know very little about-during an episode-over the phone.
I'm not confident with the bipolar-depression drug approach in my situation.

Benadryl increase, and with pdoc's blessing. Hopefully it helps. If I'm not better, or am worse, I may have to just sit in that office until SOMEONE sees me. I will go to the ER if I absolutely need to. But I'm not in a hurry.

So far I've done 2 loads of laundry, vacuumed my apartment, cleaned the bathroom, and popped up and down scattered a million times for no purpose today. Usually, I have to lay down after I vacuum my living room (and it's not that big).
All this is going on. I'm driven. But I'm exhausted... maybe that part is the MS.

I'm agitated. And I've been that nasty kind of agitated on and off today. I'm trying to keep my mouth shut for my husband's sake.

Kay

Kay,
Your choices as I see them are

1 Stop taking the Latuda. Start Abilify.

2 Keep taking the Latuda with the increased Benendryl.

3 Go to the ER.

Abilify has been around a few years longer than Latuda. Abilify has been prescribed off label for sleep. How is your sleep?

Have you been taking Latuda with food as the manufacturer says? Take it with protein if you want absorption.
Here is the Latuda P.I. sheet if you have not already seen it:
http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pub/d...s/Latudapi.pdf

M

you are so resourceful mari.

I took 75mg of Benadryl and it's been a lot easier to sit still. And I'm a little calmer.
WOO-HOO!
Oddly enough, it didn't help the runny rose I have from the cold I'm still getting over.
And I'm still manic.
You can't have everything.

My husband is now 14 beers into the 18-pk he brought home (and whatever was left in the fridge). But I haven't had a drop. Just Monday night.

Plan is:
1. Stay on the Latuda (at least until Friday)
2. Keep taking the Benadryl
3. Don't take Zoloft tomorrow morning
4. Research Abilify
5. Pray for sleep

Kay

p.s. Now I have diarrhea

Good luck Kay.

Sending good thoughts and hugs.

Donna